INVESTIGATION OF CHEMICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN SHALESUPERCRITICAL CO2-WATER SYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABLE UNCONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON EXTRACTION

摘要

Unconventional hydrocarbon reserves in shale and other tightnformations continue to provide an increasing level of energy securitynparticularly for the United States. Despite significant advancementsnin horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracture technologies, thenextraction of these unconventional hydrocarbons is still challenged bynlimited extraction efficiency as well as environmental concerns.nParticularly the use of a large quantity of water for hydraulicnfracturing or fracking and their post-treatment has emerged as one ofnthe main challenges for the shale gas extraction. Studies have alsonreported that the fracturing operations can lead to the leaching ofnheavy and radioactive metals into the fracking fluid.1 As a result,nthere is an increasing concern of the potential contamination ofnground water systems and a need for more rigorous treatment fornpost-fracking fluid..